Subgrade planer



E. H. LICHTENBERG ET AL 1,893,559

SUBGRADE PLANER Filed March 2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Jan. 10, 1933.

Jan. 10, 1933. E. H. LICHTENBIERG ET AL 1,893,559

SUBGRADE PLANER Filed March 2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- .9 Wd/VehanPatented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERICH H; LICHTENBERGAND WILLIAM A. NELSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS T KOEHE-INGCOMPANY, OF MIL'WAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION SUBGRADE PLANEB.

Application, filed March 2, 1927. Serial No. 172,015.

The present invention relates to improvements in road buildingapparatus, conventionally known as subgrade planers, designed to producea smooth and uniform finish to the surface of the subgrade on which theconcrete is deposited. An exemplification of such apparatus is disclosedin the prior patent to G. E. WVebb No. 1,534,046 dated April 21, 1925,these improvements representing developments of the construction thereinset forth and embodying novel structural changes giving rise to improvedresults, greater facility of adjustments made necessary by modificationof the road bed contour,

and assisting materially in the laying of reinforcing elements nowfrequently specified for concrete roads.

With reference to the last mentioned feature, heretofore in buildingwide concrete roads it was the custom to lay the concrete in a.continuous mass across the width of the road, but owing to the tendencyto fracture at the crown and near the sides it is now found desirable toemploy a center or expansion strip and longitudinally arrangedreinforcing rods at either side thereof and at the edges of the road toprevent these ruptures from occurring, and the subgrade planerconstituting this invention includes supporting means forpred'etermining the proper positioning of such rods with relation to thecenter and side lines of the road as well as to the depth of embedmentin the concrete material.

3D I u a i a 11 1e accompanyin c rawin s.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a subgrade planer constructed inaccordance with my invention and arranged in cooperative relation to thepaving machine utilized for moving the device over the suhgrade;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the center casting block forconnecting the two frame sections of the planer together;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View through the center block castingshown in Figure 2 and illustrating the arrangement of the scarifyingteeth and scrapers employed in connection with the device;

Figure 4 is a detail view of'a scraper blade and spacing block used inconnection therewith;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sectional frame memberfor supporting the scarifying teeth;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the draw bars and the hub capconnection therefor;

Figure 7 is a detail view of the connection of the draw bar to theplaner device;

Figure 8 is a detail view in side elevation of the roller supports andmounting for the planer frame;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the support shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which thecenter strip for the concrete road is arranged in relation to thereinforcing rods associated therewith;

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing more clearly the use of commonfastening means for the clamping clips used for connecting the teeth tothe planer frame; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the coactionof the sprinkler control with the tractor control means.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the planer device which forms the specialsubject matter of this invention is designated generally by thecharacter A. This device is mounted upon the road form rails B and isdesigned to be connected .to a paver device indicated generally by theletter C. It is to be understood, however, that it is not essential thatthis planer be associated with the paving apparatus but it is convenientto operate the planer along with the paver device and for this reason Iprefer to attach the planer to the paver by means of the draw bars D,each of which is connected at its forward end to a special hub cap Ewhich is secured to the multiplane tractor and at its rear end to theforward frame member of the planer by means of the bracket F. It will beunderstood that the planer is therefore drawn along by the paverapparatus and does not interfere with the operation of the latter. Inthe illustration shown in Figure 1 the bucket 100 tail in Figure 4 ofthe drawings.

G will move freely over the planer device to effect deposit of theconcrete upon the sub grade which has been finished by the planer in itsmovement over the same.

The planer device itself is composed of two sections designated 1, 1a,these sections being spaced from each other and connected by a saddleblock or casting 2. The position of this block corresponds with thecentral portion of the road bed and as shown in Figure 2 of the drawingsit permits the laying of the center strip H constituting the joint forthe road bed. The saddle block provides a. rigid support for thecontiguous ends of the frame sections each of which is provided with achannel end bar 3. To this bar is connected :1 pair of rollers 4, one atthe forward end and one at the rear end, said rollers being mounted uponadjustable brackets 5 each provided with a series of vertically arrangedapertures 6 for receiving the fastening bolts 7. The height of the framewith respect to the subgrade is readily regulated by the adjustmentofthe roller brackets 5 with relation to the frame bars 3. Each of theframe sections 1 and 1a, furthermore, is composed of a front beam 8 anda rear beam 9, the former being composed of a pair of angle irons 8arranged in rev-rse relation to each other as shown most clearly inFigure Upon the angle iron of this beam are mounted the scarifyinginstrumentalities or teeth 10 which are adjustably secured to the frontand rear faces of the beams in staggered relation by means of thefastening clamps 11. t will be noted by reference to Figure 1.1 that thearran 'ement of these clamping devices is such as to enable theemployment of a common fastening bolt 12 for oppositely disposedclamping elements.

The rear beam 9 of each frame section is channel-shaped as shown mostclearly in Figure 3 of the drawings, and to the forward fiat facethereof is secured a series of blades or scrapers 13 one of which isillustrated in de- ,These blades are curved in configuration andprovided with slots 14 to receive the fastening bolts 15 by means ofwhich the blades are mounted for vertical adjustment depending upon thecontour of the subgrade. To enable the attachment of these blades in themanner shown there is employed a spacing block 16 having a flat face atone side and a concave face at the other side conforming to the rearface of the blade.

As a further detail of the arrangement of teeth it will be noted inFigure 1 of the drawings that certain teeth 10 are secured at an angleso as to take care of the surface lying between the ends of the framesections. All of these teeth are capable of vertical adjustment so as tocorrespond in their relative positions to the positions of the scrapersand as required by the contour of the subgrade which is to be operatedupon.

Refer ing again to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be observed thatthe saddle block at each side of its inner wall is provided with rodsupports 2a upon which reinforcing rods may be laid as the operation ofthe machine takes place and the function of this construction will beapparent by reference to Figures 2 and 10 of the drawings. Thereinforcing rods designated I at the center or crown of the road shouldlay in spaced relation to the center strip H and the sup ports 2a willhold these rods at the proper elevation and proper spaced relationduring the progress of the concrete laying so that they will beuniformly positioned in the concrete material.

WVith reference to the reinforcement of the sides of the road bed, thecorresponding reinforcing rods'are sustained in their proper relation tothe concrete by the end channel bars 3 of the planer frame. As shown inFigure 1 of the-drawings, the rod is adapted to rest upon the lowerflange of the channel bar which prescribes the point at which the rod isembedded in the concrete.

It will be understood, however, that the reinforcing rods need not beused in conjunction with this apparatus where they are not prescribed inthe specifications for a road to be constructed. lVherever they arerequired, however, the supporting means which we have provided inconjunction with our planer device very greatly facilitate the layingopera tion of these members. When the reinforcing rods are not used thespace between the ends of the frame sections 1 and 1a may be operatedupon by attaching a blade 13 to the saddle block in such a manner as tospan the space between the frame sections.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the road bed where the concrete hasbeen deposited upon the subgrade. The center strip H is first positionedupon the subgrade along the center line by means of the stakes J. Whenin this position it passes readily beneath the paving apparatus andbetween the ends of the frame sections as shown clearly in Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

A feature of prime importance in this apparatus, the sprinklerattachment, will now be referred to in detail.

It is usually desirable in the preparation of the subgrade surface tomoisten or sprinkle the same prior to the deposit of the concretethereupon, and it is therefore an object in view to provide inconjunction with the finishing unit, sprinkling means for this purpose..Vhile it is comprehended that such sprinkling means may be controlledat will by the operatorof the machine, yet it is found extremelypracticable to render the functioning of the control of this apparatussubstantially automatic so as to insure synchronism with the movement ofthe machine and solely during the period of such movement.

To this end we have provided a service pipe L leading from a suitablewater supply (not shown) preferably carried by the tractor apparatus.Referring to Figure 12, this supply line has a vertical portion Lextending through the motor housing N adjacent to the steering wheelcolumn 0, and this is provided with a two-way valve A link Q connectsthis valve with the tractor control lever B- mounted on the column sothat when said lever is shifted to produce movement of the apparatus inthe customary manner, the water supply is automatically turned on tofiow water from the line L. When the machine is stopped, simultaneouslyand automatically the valve is closed and the water ceases to flow.

The service line L is connected to the sprinkler heads N, one of whichis mounted on each section 1 and 1a in suitable brackets h and theseheads are connected together by a branch M spanning the joint betweenthe sections. The full width of the subgrade surface is therebysprinkled during the moving up periods only.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a subgrade finishing device, a frame mounted to travel over theroad bed and comprising a pair of frame sections disposed in end to endrelation and having their adjacent ends spaced from each other so as toleave a free clearance space therebetween, means rigidly connecting thesaid adjacent ends and spanning the said space, and means intermediatethe outer ends of the frame sections for laying and guiding reinforcingrods along the subgrade.

2. In a subgrade finishing device, a frame mounted to travel over theroad bed and comprising a pair of frame sect-ions disposed in end to endrelation and supported solely at their outer ends while having theiradjacent ends spaced from each other so as to leave a free clearancespace therebetween, and a saddle bloc r rigidly connected to theadjacent ends of the section and arching over the space between saidends, and means intermediate the outer ends for laying reinforcing rodsalong the subgrade. 7 3. In a subgrade finishing device, a frame mountedto travel over the road bed and comprising a front transverse beam and apar allel rear beam, teeth adj ustably mounted in staggered relation atopposite sides of one of said beams and finishing means common toopposing teeth, and scraper means adjustably mounted on the other beam.

i. In a subgrade finishing device, a frame, subgrade finishing elementsmounted thereupon and supported solely upon their outer ends, rollersfor supporting said frame to travel upon the side road form rails,bracket members connecting said rollers to the frame, and means foradjusting the roller brackets to adjust the finishing elements inrelation to the subgrade, and means intermediate the outer ends fordepositing and guiding reinforcing rods along the subgrade.

5. Road building apparatus of the class described comprising a. framesupported solely upon its outer extremities and mounted to travel overthe road bed, rod supports on said frame disposed in spaced relation tosupport reinforcing rods in parallelism above the subgrade and to guidetherods as they are deposited in the movement of the frame over saidsubgrade, and means for adjusting the rod supports in relation to thesubgrade.

6. Road building apparatus of the class described comprising a framemounted to travel over the road bed and composed of side sectionsdisposed end to end in spaced relation, means rigidly connecting theadjacent ends of the sections so as to leave a clearance spacetherebetween to accommodate a center road strip, and means carried bythe adjacent ends of the sections to support road reinforcing rods andguidingly deposit said rods at opposite sides of the said strip in themovement of the frame over the subgrade.

7. Road building apparatus of the class described comprising a framemounted to travel over the road bed and composed of side sectionsdisposed end to end in spaced relation, means rigidly connecting theadjacent ends of the sections so as to leave a clearance spacetherebetween to acconnnodate a center road strip, rod supports carriedby the adjacent ends of the frame sections in the clearance spaceaforesaid, and other rod supports carried by the opposite ends of saidframe sections.

8. The combination with a portable road building machine, of a subgradefinisher eX- tending transversely of the road bed to be finished, drawbars connecting the road finisher to the road building machine, meansfor supporting the subgrade finisher in spaced relation to the surfaceof the subgrade, subgrade finishing elements carried by said frame, andreinforcing rod supports disposed centrally of the frame and at the endsthereof.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tractivesupport, finishing means operative upon the subgrade surface, sprinklingmeans operative to sprinkle the subgrade during movements of thetractive support, and instrumentalities for operating the sprinklingmeans automatically and synchronously with and responsively to movementsof the tractive support and being effected only during movements of thetractive support over the subgrade.

poured thereon, and means for automatically turning on the water to saidsprinkler when the machine is moved over the road bed and to turn thesame off when the machine comes to a stop.

21. The combination with a. paving machine arranged to move over a roadbed and pour concrete thereon, of a subgrade levelling machine attachedto said paving machine for movements therewith for action on the roadbefore the concrete is poured thereon, of a sprinkler carried by saidlevelling machine for distributing water on the road bed therebehind andahead of the portion of the road being covered with concrete, the watersupply for said sprinkler being controlled from the paving machine bythe operator thereof.

22. The combination with a paving ma chine arranged to move over a roadbed and pour concrete thereon, of a subgrade levelling machine attachedto said paving machine for movements therewith for action on the roadbefore the concrete is poured thereon, of a sprinkler carried by saidlevelling machine for distributing water on the road bed therebehind andahead of the portion of the road being covered with concrete, the watersupply of said sprinkler being controlled manually.

23. Apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination, atractive support, subgrade finishing means carried by the support andoperative upon a subgrade surface, the finishing means includingsprinkling instrumentalities, control means for the tractive support,and instrumentalities comprising' a link connected with the controlmeans of the tractive support for automatically synchronizing theoperation of the sprinkling instrumentalities with operation of thecontrol means to effect actuation of the sprinkling instrumentalitiessimultaneously with actuation of the tractive support and only duringprogress of the apparatus along the subgrade.

24. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of aportable support, subgrade finishing means associated for movementtherewith and operative upon a subgrade surface, sprinkling meansmounted upon the support and a single means for causing simultaneousmovement of the support and sprinkling action of the sprinkling means.

25. In concrete distributing apparatus of the class described, thecombination of a portable support arranged to advance over a subgrade,means mounted thereon for advance movement therewith to distributeconcrete on the sub-grade, a sprinkler system coacting with saidsupport, control means for causing advance movement of said support andoper ation of the sprinkling means, and instrumenta-lities connectedwith the control means for rendering the sprinkling means automaticallyresponsive and simultaneously operable with the operation of'the supporton; the subgrade. 7

26. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a tractivesupport, a sprinkler system carried by said support and including asprinkler distributinghead extending transversely of the sub-grade onwhich the tractive support is adapted to move, and means for causingsaid sprinkling system to be automatically operative during movementofthe tr-active support and nonoperative upon discontinuance of themovement" cf said 'trac-Live support.

2?. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tracti'vesupport, sub-grade finishing means operative upon a sub-grade surfaceand propelled along the surface by the tractive support, sprinklingmeans carried by the finishing means for sprinkling the sub-grade,control means for causing movement an d stoppage of said tractivesupport, separate control means for the sprinkling means, and meansincluding a connecting link for interconnect 1g the above said controlmeans to render one of the said means operative by the other to causeautomatic synchronized operation of the sprinkling means with theoperation of the tractive support during progress of the apparatus alongthe subgrade.

28. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tractivesupport arranged for movement along a subgrade, power means foreffecting movement of the support, a sprinkling system cooperativelyarranged with respect to said support and including a control valve, andmeans including a link connecting the control valve with the powercontrol means for causing automatic synchronized operation of thesprinkling means with the operation of the tractive support wherebysprinkling of the sub-grade may be effected simultaneously with themovement of the support.

29. In a sub-grade finishing device, a frame mounted to travel over aroad bed to be finished and comprising a pair of frame sections disposedin end to end relation supported solely at their outer ends while havingtheir adjacent ends spaced from each other so as to leave a freeclearance space therebetween, a saddle block ri idly connected to theadjacent ends of the sections and arching over the space between theends, and road reinforcing rod supports carried by the adjacent frame inthe space between the adjacent ends of the sections.

30. Sub-grade finishing apparatus of the class described comprising aframe mounted to travel over the road bed and composed of frame sectionsdisposed end to end in spaced relation, means rigidly connecting theadjacent ends of the sections so as to leave a clearance spacetherebetween to accommodate road reinforcing rods.

31. Sub-grade finishing apparatus of the class described comprising aframe mounted to travel over the road bed and composed of side sectionsdisposed in end to end spaced relation, means for rigidly connecting theadjacent ends of the sections together so as to leave a clearance spacetherebetween to accommodate road reinforcing rods, and rod supportscarried by the frame and arranged in the intermediate space between theadjacent ends of the sections for supporting the reinforcing rods.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

ERICH H. LICHTENBERG. WILLIAM A. NELSON.

